Here's a Blufton parade in the early 1940s. This is the Bluffton Masonic Lodge. Several observations:
• 48-star flags
• Western Ohio Railroad interuban tracks still evident on Main Street
• Elk Restaurant in the building that today houses Ellerbrock Spine and Soft Tissue
• Check out the awnings on the restaurant
• Muma's Electric Shop, radio service in is the office that today houses Faith Investment Services
• Apparently, behind that Oscar Velasquez mural is a large mural ad for a 5 cent cigar that is "truly a 10 cent quality"

Here's the Cory-Rawson High School band. It's marching in the 1986 Bluffton 125th anniversary parade. Merlin Marshall, director, is with the band, on the left side of the photo.

Merlin's son, John, relates this interesting story about this photo. He says:

"I had forgotten about those beautiful green pants! That was taken on the day of my brother Rick's wedding at Bethel Church on 30, east of 235 outside Ada. That's right, we marched in the parade, went home, cleaned up and got ready for the wedding. Boy was that a hot day!

We think you can identify this Bluffton location. Take a walk toward College Hall from Ropp Hall, after you cross the Riley. Then, there's a small footbridge over the lagoon. That's this view from the 1934 Bluffton High School yearbook. The photo was in an advertisement for Bluffton College.